MC EMS 2020 - Internet Connections to the EMS

From Corrective Action Plan AZ

In your exploration of election-related anomalies, you are here:

This page seeks to explain potential governance gaps with respect to allegations from the Arizona Senate, specifically for allegation #3 Maricopa County Election Department - Election Management System anomalies. These were investigated by the Arizona Attorney General's Office 2020 General Election Investigation Report. This topic is listed on Election Anomalies page, which lists various election-related anomalies that illustrate poor governance.

Governance Gaps are reported on and compared to a standard so that you may visualize how poorly managed County services can have an adverse impact without any criminal wrongdoing. We chose the United States Government Accountability Office's (GAO) Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government (also known as the Green Book) because it represents the ideal standard for governance practices since it is specifically written for government entities, not the business sector. Maricopa County has no obligation or commitments to adhere to any governance-related standards, including the Green Book. Regardless, the Green Book is a representation of what good governance looks like and deviations from that standard are worthy of consideration, not prosecution. 

The Governance Gap Assessment Team are not IT security experts. The technical aspects of the IT configuration are not being disputed. The assessment for governance gaps sought to understand how data and information was being treated with respect to the US GAO's Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government.

Maricopa Election Management Server (2020)

Governance issues identified from Arizona Attorney General's Office 2020 General Election Investigation of Arizona Senate allegations of Maricopa County Election Department - Election Management Server (EMS) issues.

MC EMS 2020 - Internet Connection to the EMS

Governance gaps were identified from Arizona Attorney General's Office 2020 General Election Investigation of Arizona Senate allegations #3 Maricopa County Election Department - Election Management Server (EMS) issues, which consisted of ten separate allegations. MC EMS 2020 - Election Management System Database Purged is an assessment of one of the ten sub-allegations associated with the EMS.

Allegation

Cyber Ninjas stated Maricopa County Board of Supervisors repeatedly stated the network connecting election/voting system is isolated network not connected to internet. An in-depth analysis of both allocated and unallocated spaced of EMS server, EMS workstations, Adjudication Workstations, and other elements of the election system has definitely proved that this is not the case. There were hundreds of connections to internet sites recovered from unallocated areas of the hard drive.

Relevant Inspector Notes
  • Election Officials explained REWEB and REGIS systems were web servers that host "record.maricopa.gov" and the internet connectivity is legitimate.
  • The REWEB and REGIS systems do not connect to the EMS.
  • Walkdowns confirm the existence of an air gap system.
Inspector's Finding

Unfounded Allegation. Upon review of this section and applicable data known thus far, there is no further analysis that can likely be done as it relates to internet connectivity. Of the devices reviewed by Cyber Ninjas, they articulate a need to review the "routers" in order to determine if internet connectivity did in fact occur. Additionally, with the lack of log files, they cannot review information related to potential internet connections.

Governance Gaps Assessment
  • Consistent with all allegations, this allegations should not have occurred had MC leadership respected the Arizona's role as an oversight entity.

Potential Governance Gap(s):

  • Principle 1 - Demonstrate Commitment to Integrity and Ethical Values
  • Principle 2 - Exercise Oversight Responsibility
  • Principle 3 - Establish Structure, Responsibility, and Authority
  • Principle 4 - Demonstrate Commitment to Competence
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 5 - Enforce Accountability
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 6 - Define Objectives and Risk Tolerances
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 7 - Identify, Analyze, and Respond to Risks
  • Principle 8 - Assess Fraud, Improper Payment, and Information
  • Principle 9 - Identify, Analyze, and Respond to Change
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 10 - Design Control Activities
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 11 - Design General Control Activities over Information
  • Principle 12 - Implement Control Activities
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 13 - Use Quality Information
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 14 - Communicate Internally
    • Attribute(s):
  • Principle 15 - Communicate Externally
  • Principle 16 - Perform Monitoring Activities
  • Principle 17 - Evaluate Issues and Remediate Deficiencies
    • Attribute(s):
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